9:00pm Thursday 14th May 2009
By Andy Carswell
A SUPERMARKET’S green policy was attacked by councillors this evening after a planned wind turbine was described as a “futile piece of gimmickry” and a “grotesque form of tokenism”.
Members of Chiltern District Council’s planning committee added the amount of electricity generated by the turbine was insufficient and could not be justified.
Tesco submitted a bid to build a 35 ft turbine to provide power for its store in Old Amersham, which would have been put up in the car park.
A report stated it would have a capacity of 6 kilowatts – which Cllr Nick Rose said would not supply enough power for his home “for more than a few minutes”.
Cllr Robert Burns-Green was scathing in his comments on the proposals, telling the committee: “It will be welcomed with excitement, if it goes ahead, by carbon footprint disciples and the Al Gore school of hysterics.
“The intention of Tesco is to infest the country with these things to say to people impressed by these things ‘We are doing our best to save the planet’. Well, I’m not impressed.
“It’s a futile piece of gimmickry.”
He said: “One of the supporters said it’s a commendable gesture and that’s what it is – a gesture,” adding it would be “an eyesore”.
Cllr Davida Allen said the council had received a number of letters from concerned members of the Chiltern Society and Amersham Society, which she described as “authoritative bodies”.
She said: “It will be highly visible from the roads round about and against the green backdrop.
“It will be visible from Ruckles Field, which is of major historical importance. It’s where the Martyrs Memorial is.”
She added: “Windmills work best on hills. This is not a hill, this is a basin of a river valley.”
Cllr Nick Rose said: “It’s fairly visual – it’s difficult to miss it. Its visual impact will be overwhelming. It’s a grotesque form of tokenism.
“I can’t see how this will supply four UK households. It wouldn’t supply mine for more than a few minutes.”
The application was rejected by eight votes to two, after officers had recommended planning permission be granted.
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